Line #52 Main/StatusEffects


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6	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/MonsterMaker https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/status_effects_monster_maker.png]]]]
7	[[caption-width-right:350:Clockwise from top: [[TakenForGranite Petrified]], [[UniversalPoison Poisoned]], [[ForcedSleep Asleep]], [[HarmlessFreezing Frozen]].]]
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9	In games, a status effect is any temporary modification to a character's usual abilities or rules (especially [[RPGsEqualCombat rules of combat]]). These are virtually omnipresent among {{RPG}}s, but also show up in other genres of video gaming (often in direct proportion to other RPGElements), and can show up in tabletop gaming as well. This provides opportunities for strategy and variety in gameplay by allowing a player to deal with foes (or vice versa) in ways other than simply reducing their HitPoints to [[CriticalExistenceFailure zero]].
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11	Because this is a very broad concept, status effects cover a wide variety of ground, but they can generally be classified into just two groups:
12
13	* '''Status Ailments''' are primarily negative, unwanted effects: DamageOverTime, restricting a character's actions, or so on. By far the more commonly encountered class of effects, these usually persist until explicitly cured or removed. At the same time, the player can easily acquire [[StandardRPGItems dedicated cures for each ailment]] at nearby shops.
14	* '''{{Status Buff}}s''' are primarily positive effects like boosted attack power, [[GradualRegeneration HP regeneration]], etc. These are usually temporary effects that typically wear off at the end of a given battle.
15
16	Ailments also have a number of practical differences from buffs:
17
18	* ''Status ailments are more prevalent:'' Whereas status buffs tend to be associated with the late game (often being the exclusive province of mages and spellcasting), status ailments are commonly seen from the early game, even at low levels — e.g. a venomous monster that randomly inflicts Poison with its usual attacks.
19	* ''Status ailments are more persistent:'' They tend to last until explicitly cured or removed (which makes them all the more annoying for it), while status buffs tend to automatically wear off over time (e.g. after battle).
20	* ''Status ailments are easier to cure:'' Because of the above two points, you can find StandardRPGItems dedicated to curing specific ailments in just about every in-game shop you come across. By contrast, there is usually only one way to remove a status buff (even a negative one): the StatusBuffDispel, which removes all buffs simultaneously and cannot remove individual effects. (Plus, you typically need a mage in the active party to actually cast it.)
21	* In some systems, ''status ailments do not stack:'' They may be subject to a OneCurseLimit, so e.g. getting Poisoned may render you immune to Paralysis in the meantime. Most status buffs will combine and stack with each other by default. Note that most games with stackable ailments don't adhere to logic (i.e. a game that has both a flaming and a frozen debuff will often make it so the player can be inflicted with both at the same time)
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23	The two categories are not always exclusive -- some effects are both positive and negative, which can make them [[CursedWithAwesome good]] or [[BlessedWithSuck bad]] depending on the context they're applied to. For example, if a system enforces a OneCurseLimit on negative status effects, this means a character afflicted with a minor inconvenience may be protected from acquiring a more severe one. Likewise, an effect that increases damage dealt ''and'' damage received could work for or against the character who has it. A StatusInflictionAttack is how they can be induced on someone, and a SituationalDamageAttack can exploit one of these by design.
24
25	Typical sources of status effects include:
26	* spells, powers and items that can directly (or indirectly) cause them
27	* enchanted equipment that imparts an effect to its wearer
28	* a nearby FieldPowerEffect from the environment itself
29
30	Status effects are frequently displayed on the StatusLine.
31
32	This page contains a list of common status effects.
33	----
34	!!Status Buffs:
35	* AntiDebuff: The ability to resist status ailments or remove them after they've been applied.
36	* AttackReflector: An effect that causes attacks (commonly, only magic attacks are affected) to bounce off the target and hit the caster or someone else instead. Almost always a positive effect, but some games let you abuse this by casting it on AI-controlled enemies so their healing and buffing spells bounce onto you instead.
37	* AttackSpeedBuff: A positive effect that increases the speed at which attacks are executed.
38	* AutoRevive: A positive effect which lets you get back up automatically after being knocked out or killed.
39	* BoozeBasedBuff: Drinking alcohol gives a character a status buff of some kind, usually an increase to attack power and reduced defense or accuracy.
40	* GradualRegeneration: A positive effect that causes one to gradually regain health, mana, or some other stat for its duration.
41	* QuadDamage: Increases the damage output of a character, usually for a brief amount of time or with a limit to how many attacks it will boost.
42	* StatusBuff: A very broad category for positive effects. Commonly means increased stats.
43
44	!!Status Ailments/Debuffs:
45	* AntiRegeneration: Stops the target from healing. Very useful against enemies who regenerate or have healing abilities. Some games will have a similar debuff that doesn't stop natural regeneration, but prevents the player from using health potions or other healing items.
46	* BlindedByRage: In some games, going Berserk is treated as a strictly negative thing, making the afflicted character attack uncontrollably, usually with reduced defense and accuracy.
47	* CharmPerson: Being charmed usually makes a character temporarily join the enemy's side until they snap out of it.
48	** Many games have a weaker version of charmed, most commonly called Confused. Confused fighters will either fight both friends and foes, or have a chance to fight an ally instead of the enemy.
49	* DamageIncreasingDebuff: An effect that makes the afflicted character take more damage from each hit.
50	* DamageOverTime: Probably the most common status effect. The afflicted character takes regular damage.
51	** ManOnFire: A popular flavor of DamageOverTime is to have the afflicted character be lit on fire, taking constant damage until the flames are extinguished.
52	** UniversalPoison: The most common flavor of DamageOverTime besides bleeding is a generic "poison" that deals constant damage until treated, normally with a MagicAntidote.
53	** LifeDrain: When this move also doubles as a healing move. Their HP is slowly taken away to be used to heal the attacker.
54	** Some games will employ "electrified" or "shocked" as DamageOverTime instead of as TheParalyzer. Occasionally this will have a spread effect, and adjacent enemies may also get damaged.
55	** Another popular DamageOverTime status is bleeding. This often comes from when a target takes serious damage and/or the attack leaves a deep enough wound for blood to come out.
56	* ForcedSleep: Puts a character to sleep, preventing them from acting. Taking damage will sometimes wake up the sleeping character. Some versions of this status ailment have the character slowly heal each turn as long as it lasts.
57	* ForcedTransformation: Many games have abilities that inflict a weird transformation upon a character. Usually results in massively reduced stats, and/or greatly limiting which actions you can take (if not totally disabling the character for its duration).
58	* HarmlessFreezing: Ice-based attacks may leave the target completely encased in ice, stopping them from acting, and sometimes making them vulnerable to LiterallyShatteredLives, taking a CriticalHit or even suffering a OneHitKill when attacked. However, the actual freezing itself is unlikely to cause damage.
59	* InterfaceScrew: An effect with your controls or view of the screen. Much more common in games with real-time combat, and [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard rarely works on AI-controlled enemies]].
60	** IntoxicationMechanic: The player character consuming drugs or alcohol hinders the player's ability to play the game.
61	** StaticScrew: An InterfaceScrew that fills the screen with static. Very common in games where TheProtagonist is some sort of robot.
62	* LockedOutOfTheFight: An effect that ejects a target from the battle, where they may or may not rejoin after some time. Until then, they are usually treated as defeated.
63	* MaximumHPReduction: An effect that reduces a character's maximum hit points.
64	* OneHitKill: Makes the target drop dead (or [[NonLethalKO fall unconscious]]) instantly, regardless of how much health they have. Sadly, this effect often has poor accuracy to make up for how powerful it is.
65	* TheParalyzer: Causes the afflicted character to be unable to act. Oddly, paralysis is often very brief and easily cured, unlike in RealLife where it's often a long-lasting or permanent disability.
66	* PowerNullifier: Prevents the target from using special abilities, such as magic. Most commonly called Silence, with the implication being that muteness makes you unable to speak the spells' incantation.
67	* ReviveKillsZombie: Temporarily gives the character undead traits, causing most healing effects to be [[AntiRegeneration ineffective]] or even harmful.
68	* SupernaturalFearInducer: Characters become afraid. This can lead to drastically weaker attack and defense, characters being too afraid to take action, or make them run away from the fight.
69	* StatusBuffDispel: An ability that weakens an opponent by removing their buffs.
70	* TakenForGranite: Petrification makes the character unable to act until it is treated. Depending on the game, the statue will either be so hard that the target becomes invulnerable during this time, or so brittle that taking damage will result in LiterallyShatteredLives for a CriticalHit or OneHitKill.
71	* TemporaryBlindness: In action games, blindness will usually be a type of InterfaceScrew, while in turn-based ones, it's more likely to massively reduce the character's accuracy.
72	* WhyAmITicking: One of the rarer status effects, but found in a few games. A character has an explosive implanted or attached to them, dealing damage to everyone caught in the blast once it goes off, often resulting in a TimeDelayedDeath for the victim as well (though some cases might let you use this on an ally, exploiting the FriendlyFireproof trope).
73	** TimeDelayedDeath: After a short time, the afflicted character drops dead. Sometimes, you may be able to stop this by curing yourself before the timer expires, other times, you have no choice but to try and finish the fight before it happens or have a revival ability ready on another character.
74
75	!! Other Status Effects:
76	* CooldownManipulation: When it's a positive effect, this will let you use your abilities more often. When it's negative, you'll have to wait longer between uses.
77	* DoubleEdgedBuff: A status effect that has both a positive and negative effect on the target.
78	* DrawAggro: Commonly used by StoneWall characters, this effect makes enemies more likely (or even forced) to target them, taking attention away from squishier party members.
79	* ExtraTurn: An effect that either lets the character act multiple times, or makes their enemy unable to act.
80	* IncredibleShrinkingMan: Turns a character tiny. Often a negative effect that cripples the target's attack and defense, but sometimes comes with positive effects as well, such as increased evasion or the ability to go through secret passages.
81	* UnstoppableRage: In some games, going Berserk is treated as a mixed blessing. Sure, the character is forced to only attack and can't do anything else, but they may benefit from increased damage during this time.
82
83	!!Other Status Effect-Related Tropes:
84	* ContractualBossImmunity: In a lot of games, bosses are frequently universally immune to most or all status effects.
85	* DefendCommand: In most games, defending is a type of status effect, possibly BlockingStopsAllDamage, and might have its own icon.
86	* HydroElectroCombo: Usually a specific type of StatusEffectPoweredAbility when there's water or electric-based statuses, they can empower effects of the other type.
87	* StatusEffectPoweredAbility: Abilities that are enhanced/usable when a certain status is on the target/user.
88	* UselessUsefulSpell: Not ''explicitly'' about status effects, but by far the most common examples of this trope are abilities that inflict status effects in games where they're not terribly powerful, or where the only worthwhile targets for them [[ContractualBossImmunity are immune to them]].

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